Say it! Sing it! Play it! In Cherokee

How do you keep alive an endangered language? By singing it loud and proud with Turtle and Wabbit!


Available for in-person and virtual performances!

Through catchy songs and fun storytelling, award-winning Z Puppets performers – Cherokee tribal member Chris Griffith, with Shari Aronson – lead an adventure into the Cherokee language.
 Sing along with Dagsi Turtle & Jisdu Wabbit — and you, too, will learn how to count to three, say hello and thank you in Cherokee!

The Cherokee Nation declared a state of emergency for their language. UNESCO declared a Decade of Indigenous Languages beginning in 2022. With Say It! Sing It! Play It! In Cherokee live shows and streaming series, Z Puppets taps into the power of playfulness to help keep alive the Cherokee language. Bring Turtle & Wabbit to your audiences.

Recommended for ages 4+.

"Such a clever and fun performance. A beautiful and inclusive show!"

– Minnesota Librarian

in-person performances

Grandmother Turtle is upside down. Dagsi Turtle and Jisdu Wabbit must find a way to help her get back on her feet.

Jump into the fun with the catchy songs and lovable characters by award-winning Z Puppets' performers, Cherokee tribal member Chris Griffith, with Shari Aronson.

In 45 minutes with Turtle & Wabbit, their ukelele, rubber chicken, inventive original tunes and stories, you will be tapping your toes and singing along to help keep alive the Cherokee language.

Featured in Minnesota (MN State Fair, Mill City Museum, South Eastern and Dakota County libraries), Oklahoma (Tulsa Repertory Musicals) and Arizona (Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre, Great Arizona Puppet Theatre, Valley of the Moon), audiences have enthusiastically shouted out "Wado!' (Thank you) to Say It! Sing It! Play It! In Cherokee.

Get tech specs for in-person performances.

 
 

Streaming series

Grandmother Turtle needs our help! Dagsi Turtle & Jisdu Wabbit race through time and space to keep alive the Cherokee language and get Grandma back on her feet in this 3-part musical adventure available for streaming.

During childhood visits to his grandparents in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Chris begged his elders to teach him Cherokee. He became the first in three generations of his family to learn the language.

“TV shows like Sesame Street, Electric Company and Schoolhouse Rock really made an impact on me as I was learning English as a child,” says Griffith. SAY IT! SING IT! PLAY IT! IN CHEROKEE is the show I wished for as a Cherokee language learner.”

Premiering at the Ordway Center for Performing Arts in 2021, this video is now available on YouTube and in-person events featuring live (or virtual) performances of Turtle & Wabbit.

Music videos of the streaming series

MUSIC VIDEO: Osiyo (Learn to say hello in Cherokee)

MUSIC VIDEO: I Can Count to Three in Cherokee

Say it! Sing it! Play it! In Cherokee

Study Guide

 

About the artists

Chris Griffith as Dagsi Turtle & Shari Aronson as Jisdu Wabbit.
Photo by Nicole Neri for MPR News.

Since 1998, writer and performer Chris Griffith (Cherokee Nation) has been leading people to the power of playfulness as Co-Creative Director and Founder of Z Puppets Rosenschnoz (with Shari Aronson). Their combination of hand-crafted puppetry, quirky humor and live music has won support from the Jim Henson Foundation, Puppeteers of America, MN State Arts Board, Ordway Center and Jerome & McKnight Foundations. 

Chris Griffith was also co-founder and artistic director of Galumph Interactive Theatre (nationally recognized pioneers in participatory theater) and served as Education Coordinator for In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater. As a comic juggler, he has performed for the MN Children’s Museum, MN Fringe Festival and Edmonton International Street Performer’s Festival. A 2009 winner of an Ivey Award for puppet design, his work has received support from the National Endowment for the Arts, and multiple awards from the Minnesota State Arts Board.

Shari Aronson earned a B.A. in Drama education, developed interactive environments and written plays for Minnesota's History Center, Science Museum and Children's Museum. Shari's stage adaptation of Eric Kimmel's beloved children's book "Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins" has been produced by theaters across the country. Shari studied physical comedy with Sigfrido Aguilar, Theatre of Oppressed with founder Augusto Boal and puppetry with Sandglass Institute.

Say it! Sing it! Play it! In Cherokee

media kit

DOWNLOADABLE IMAGES

GIFS FROM THE STREAMING SERIES

SAMPLE PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release 

Download Say it! Sing it! Play it! In Cherokee logo

Media & Event Contacts:
Amy Danielson, Marketing Coordinator
amy at zpuppets dot org or 612-245-2020
Shari Aronson, Creative Director
shari at zpuppets dot org or (612) 724-1435 x 2


Z PUPPETS ROSENSCHNOZ PRESENTS

SAY IT! SING IT! PLAY IT! IN CHEROKEE

A FAMILY-FRIENDLY SING-A-LONG ADVENTURE
TO HELP KEEP ALIVE AN ENDANGERED LANGUAGE 

Recommended for ages 3-103!

Insert DATE, TIME and LOCATION

(City) DATE, 2024 — How can YOU help keep alive an endangered language? By singing it loud and proud with a Turtle and Wabbit! 

Z Puppets Rosenschnoz announces performances of Say It! Sing It! Play It! in Cherokee on DATES. Learn about the Cherokee language through this family-friendly musical adventure into an endangered language.

Grandmother Turtle is upside down. Turtle and Wabbit must find a way to help her get back on her feet. Jump into the fun with catchy songs and lovable characters by award-winning Z Puppets' performers, Cherokee tribal member Chris Griffith, with Shari Aronson.

During childhood visits to his grandparents in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Chris begged his elders to teach him Cherokee. He became the first in three generations of his family to learn Cherokee. “TV shows like Sesame Street, Electric Company and Schoolhouse Rock really made an impact on me as I was learning English as a child,” says Griffith. “Say It! Sing It! Play It! is the show I wished for as a Cherokee language learner.”

Say It! Sing It! Play It! In Cherokee, directed by Anishinabe artist Julie Boada, taps into the power of playfulness to activate the Cherokee language. Sing along, and in less than one hour, learn how to count to three, make the basic sounds, say hello and thank you in Cherokee! 

PERFORMANCE DETAILS
Presenter
Location
Dates and Times
Ticket link
More info link

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Watch a trailer: https://zpuppets.org/sisipi-video-trailer
Interview: Sanctuary Interview on KFAI
Story: MinneCulture podcast

"This is the most fun language revitalization event I have ever attended!"
— Melissa Olson, MIGIZI Native American Youth Media Center

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Writer/Performer/Designer Chris Griffith is the co-Creative Director of Z Puppets Rosenschnoz, an award winning performing and  teaching puppetry artist and enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation. Chris developed Say It! Sing It! Play It! in Cherokee, with support from the NDN Collective, Tiwahe Foundation and Metropolitan Regional Arts Council. Chris got his start as a juggling street performer and has a B.A. in Anthropology from Macalester College.

Performer Shari Aronson, Z Puppets’ Co-Creative Director, earned a M.A. in Drama Education from University of Arizona. She has developed interactive environments and written plays for Minnesota's History Center, Science Museum and Children''s Museum. Shari's stage adaptation of beloved children's book Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins has been produced by theaters across the country, including Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre in 2020.

Director Julie Boada is an Anishinabe artist, storyteller, puppeteer and arts educator. Julie has worked regionally and nationally with Little Coyote Theater, In the Heart of the Beast Puppet & Mask Theatre, Z Puppets Rosenschnoz, and the MN History Center. Julie has earned support from the MN State Arts Board and the Jerome Foundation and has a B.A. in Studio Arts and American Indian Studies from the University of Minnesota.

Z Puppets Rosenschnoz

Z Puppets’ mission is to bring people of all ages and abilities into the power of playfulness, through performances, workshops and feats of imagination. Z Puppets delights children and their adults with the inventive blend of hand-crafted puppetry, quirky humor and whimsical music. Since 1998, the company has created 30+ original shows — from a glow-in-the-dark performance of cell division to a mindfulness musical. Led by Creative Directors Shari Aronson and Cherokee tribal member Chris Griffith, Z Puppets has earned honors and support nationally from the Jim Henson Foundation, Network of Ensemble Theaters, Tour West, NDN Collective, Puppeteers of America, Parents' Choice, Creative Child Magazine, plus, 41 Minnesota State Arts Board grants. 

Z Puppets’ superpower is engaging people in complex topics through the arts. Many families tell Z Puppets they share ideas and jokes from their shows for years afterwards. Evaluators describe their work as “sticky” — delivering lasting impact. A career highlight has been seeing the stickiness of SAY IT! SING IT! PLAY IT! IN CHEROKEE (SISIPI).

Shari and Chris consider it a great honor to lead people into sharing laughter and making meaning of the world through the arts. Thus, their company motto: Behold! The Power of Playfulness. Learn more at zpuppets.org

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tech specs for in-person performances

Say it! Sing it! Play it! In Cherokee (SISIPI) is a 50-minute musical concert performance with puppets. The show travels in a van with two performers who will also load-in and set up.

Set-up can be accomplished in most venues within two hours. SISIPI is designed for a proscenium stage, but can be performed indoors or outdoors.

SET: The set is a 10’ high x 10’ wide backdrop. Company will travel with tripod rigging, but is open to using house fly system if applicable. Company will travel with folding table to place SR, and instruments, puppets and props.

LIGHTS: SISIPI can be performed with minimal lighting (General Stage Wash); however anything to enhance the feel of a large concert venue adds to the overall feel show.

SOUND: SISIPI has two vocal headset microphones that travel with the show (XLR input) and one ukulele/guitar wireless input (1/4”). If necessary, performers may bring their own PA system (please specify ahead if this is needed). An ipad or CD player provides pre-show music. Depending on circumstances, we may add musicians to fill out the band sound.

HOSPITALITY: The Company requests the following to be backstage in between events on days in which more than one activity has been scheduled (times will be advanced by Tour Manager):

  • Filtered water (for 2 performers)

  • Fruit tray (e.g. grapes, apples, oranges)

  • Vegetarian snack tray (e.g. pita bread, hummus, carrots)

MINIMUM STAGE DIMENSIONS:

  • Depth: 10’ (back wall to lip of stage)

  • Width – 16’ at proscenium

  • Height – 10’ mandatory

WARDROBE: If more than three performances, please have available a washing machine and dryer.

DRESSING ROOMS: At least one dressing room with adequate heating and cooling, hot water and toilets separate from public must be provided.

PARKING: Parking for one full sized van is required.

FRONT OF HOUSE: Late seating is allowed. 

SAMPLE WORK SCHEDULE: Production requires exclusive use of the performing space during load-in and performance.

  • Below is typical for a small to mid-sized theater space. Unusual spaces may also be accommodated.

  • The schedule below is a sample assuming performances at 2:00 and 7:00 pm on a Saturday. Your schedule may vary, and will be forwarded by our Tour Manager.

FRIDAY

4:00 pm Company arrives, load-in and set up..

5:00 pm Sound check, set levels.

6:00 pm Company disperses for the evening.

 

SATURDAY

12:30 pm Performer call at theater. . 

1:30 pm Performer call onstage, house opens.

2:00 pm Presenter introduction, show begins.

2:45 pm Show ends, Company returns for Q&A

3:00 pm Clean up and re-set

4:00 pm Company dinner and break

5:30 pm Performer call, warm up.

6:30 pm Performer call onstage, house opens.

7:00 pm Presenter introduction, show begins.

7:45 pm Show ends, Company returns for Q&A audience

8:00 pm Clean up and strike

9:30 pm Company departs